Blue Devils Raise Monies & Win Dig Pink Match

It was a great day for the Huntington varsity girls’ volleyball program, which held a Dig Pink game to raise funds for the battle against breast cancer. The Blue Devils went on to engage in an epic five game match against visiting North Babylon, eventually outlasting the Bulldogs in the nearly three hour contest in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium.

The box score line shows just how closely the two teams were matched. Huntington won 25-23, 22-25, 15-25, 25-21, 15-12. It was the first win for new head coach Jake Torres and it avenged an early season loss to North Babylon.

The gym was decorated for the game and snacks and refreshments were for sale. The game raised $438, which is being donated to the Islip Breast Cancer Coalition in memory of a Suffolk volleyball coach from that town.

Coach Torres addressed the crowd prior to the start of the match. “Tonight isn’t just another game,” he said. “It’s a night when we come together as a team, a community, and a family to fight for something far bigger than volleyball. ‘Dig Pink’ is about raising awareness for breast cancer and honoring the fighters, the survivors, and the loved ones we’ve lost. Breast cancer touches so many lives—mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, and teammates. Tonight, we play in their honor. Every point we fight for is a tribute to those who have shown incredible courage in the face of this disease.”

Huntington played its best volleyball of the season. Emily Barba had 12 kills, 16 digs and one ace. Jocelyn Thorbourne tallied 24 assists, four digs, three kills and two aces. Dakota Respass and Melanie Rodriguez both had 13 digs and three aces.

Kymora Dorvilus (five kills, two digs, one block), Maddy Falk (five kills), Gabby Jones (three kills, one assist, one dig), Amelia Carino (three digs, two kills, one block), Karina Rodriguez (five digs) and Manpreet Kaur (one kill, one dig) all contributed statistically along with the rest of the team that saw playing time on the court.

(A kill is when the opposition cannot return an attack. A dig is when a defensive player passes a ball that was an attack by the opposition.)

“Before we begin tonight’s match, we’d like to take a moment to reflect,” Coach Torres told the crowd. “We ask everyone to please rise and join us in a moment of silence to honor and remember all those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.”

Caleigh Camarata, who plays on the Huntington JV, was then introduced to the crowd and performed a stunning and flawless version of The Star Spangled Banner, to the delight of players, coaches and fans, including Superintendent Beth McCoy, who joined in the festivities.